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Lesson 93 of 240

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Give a reason in English

Ana is at the Blue Plate again. Murray sits on two stools, and she wants to know why.

You will ask why and give a reason with because.

Use Why did you to ask about an action in the past. How come is a short, casual way to ask why.

You will also say the main reason or explain why you could not do something.

By the end of this lesson

Ask why and give a reason.

  • Why did you ___?Ask why someone did something.
  • How come?A casual way to ask why.
  • I did it because ___.Give the reason you did something.
  • It's because I need the practice.You explain the cause in a simple way.
  • The main reason is work.Work is the biggest cause.
  • I couldn't because the bus was late.You say why you were not able to do it.

Scene — two stools

Same afternoon at the Blue Plate. Ana stands by the counter with her tote bag.

Murray sits on two stools at the end, with a black coffee he has not finished.

Dee holds the pot. The jukebox by the door stays quiet, and button B7 stays empty.

Ana questions Murray about taking two stools while Dee holds the coffee pot nearby.

Learn — why and because

Six short lines help you ask why and give a reason.

You get Why did you, How come, because, and a line for when you could not do something.

  1. Murray gestures to the space around his two stools as Ana listens.

    Why did you ___?

    Ask why someone did something.

    When to use it: Ask this when you want the reason for a past action.

    Did shows that the action happened in the past. Use the plain form of the verb in the blank.

    Say it: Did and you often link in fast speech.

  2. Ana casually asks Murray why he has taken two stools, and he indicates the room he needs.

    How come?

    A casual way to ask why.

    When to use it: Use this with friends as a short, casual why.

    How come is casual. Use Why for a more neutral question.

    Say it: The stress is on come.

  3. Dee asks Ana about missing class while filling a cup, and Ana responds.

    I did it because ___.

    Give the reason you did something.

    When to use it: Say this after someone asks why you did something.

    Because starts the reason, and you fill the blank with the cause.

    Say it: Because has stress on the second part.

  4. Ana gestures toward the street as she talks about her trip, while Murray listens.

    It's because I need the practice.

    You explain the cause in a simple way.

    When to use it: Use this to give a simple reason for something.

    It's is a contraction of it is and you learn it as one piece.

  5. Ana explains that work is why she chose the evening class, as Murray listens.

    The main reason is work.

    Work is the biggest cause.

    When to use it: Say this when work is the biggest cause.

    Main reason means the biggest cause, and work is the example here.

  6. Ana gives Dee a simple reason for coming to the diner, and Dee gestures toward an empty seat.

    I couldn't because the bus was late.

    You say why you were not able to do it.

    When to use it: Use this to say why you were not able to do something.

    Couldn't is could not as one piece, and it is past tense.

    Say it: Couldn't ends with a /t/ sound; could does not.

Story — he will not share

Watch Ana ask why Murray uses two stools. Dee has her own reason.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Late afternoon at the Blue Plate. Murray sits on two stools. His coffee is still full.
  2. AnaWhy did you take two stools?She asks why he used two stools.
  3. MurrayI did it because a yak needs the room.He took two stools to have enough space.
  4. AnaHow come?A casual way to ask why.
  5. MurrayWell, a yak is not a small guest.He says he is large, so he needs space.
  6. DeeHon, the main reason is that he won't share.She says he does not want to share a stool.
  7. Dee looks at Ana and fills a cup.
  8. DeeWhy did you miss class?She asks why Ana did not go to class.
  9. AnaI couldn't because the bus was late.You say why you were not able to do it.
  10. MurrayHow come? You always take the Blue Line.He asks why, and says she usually takes the train.
  11. AnaI came on the bus. That's how I came.She talks about the trip, not the reason.
  12. DeeHow come means why, hon. Not how.She tells Ana that How come means why.
  13. MurraySo why did you pick night class?He asks why she chose the evening class.
  14. AnaThe main reason is work.Work is the biggest cause.
  15. DeeAnd this diner, hon?She asks why Ana comes to the diner too.
  16. AnaIt's because I need the practice.You explain the cause in a simple way.
  17. DeeHave a seat. You're fine.please sit down

Practice — ask and answer

Eleven quick exercises wait here. You will listen, pick, build, and fill a gap.

They stay short, so you can check how to ask why and give a reason.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    Why did you ___?Drop the Simple English here
    How come?Drop the Simple English here
    The main reason is work.Drop the Simple English here
    I couldn't because the bus was late.Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    Murray is on two stools. You want the reason he did that.

  4. What does it mean?

    It's because I need the practice.

  5. Fill the gap

    Give the reason you did something.

    I did it ____ ___.

  6. Pick the reply

    Dee says:

    Why did you pick the night class?

    She asks why you chose the evening class.

    And you reply with:

  7. Build the line

    You say why you were not able to do it.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  8. Swap the word

    Dee asks why you come to the diner after class.

    It's because I need the ____.

  9. True or false?

    This line asks for a reason.

  10. Which one doesn’t belong?

  11. Fill the gap

    I take that train every time, with no change.

    I ____ take the Blue Line.

Say it — say the reason

Now you're Ana at the counter. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. DeeYou're late, hon.She says Ana arrived after the usual time.
  2. Ana (you)Tell her why you were not able to get here on time.

    I couldn't because the bus was late.

    You say why you were not able to do it.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
Why did you ___?Ask why someone did something.
How come?A casual way to ask why.
I did it because ___.Give the reason you did something.
It's because I need the practice.You explain the cause in a simple way.
The main reason is work.Work is the biggest cause.
I couldn't because the bus was late.You say why you were not able to do it.
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